For all but six members of the team, it was the first time playing in a big international game on foreign
soil. They were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.

“As my first game in Europe, it was pretty exciting,” said 17-year-old defenceman Alexis Crossley
(Cole Harbour, N.S./Shattuck-St. Mary’s (U.S. Prep). “I think the fact that it was our first game of the
tournament, we were really into it the whole time.

“We were able to keep our heads into it even though we had 13 goals. It was just the more, the
merrier.”

The coaching staff was pleased with the attention to detail from the players. Canada had a somewhat slow
start – it was 2-1 after the first period – but got stronger as the game went along.

“It's never really about the score, it's just always about doing the right things and having good habits
along the way,” said assistant coach Carla MacLeod (Calgary,
Alta./Mount Royal University, ACAC), a former member of Canada’s National Women’s Team.

“That's what I think we set a good foundation today for. We started off a little bit timid. I think we
were just a bit nervous, which is normal for a big tournament like this.

“But once the girls settled in and started playing together and sort of played the Canadian game, I
thought we did well.”

Crossley, Dubois and Woods all scored their first international goals wearing a Team Canada jersey in the
opening game of this year’s under-18 world championship.

Canada has met the U.S. in the final of all four under-18 world championships, winning gold in 2010. A
meeting between the rivals won't come until later in the tournament, possibly in another final.

The Canadians certainly plan on being there.

“Having a chance to play for your country, in a country halfway across the world, is something that's
really hard to describe,'' Crossley said. “Obviously, I feel very honoured to be here and I'm very excited
that I am going to have the chance at bringing back a gold medal to my country and get to show it off to all
of my family and friends.''

Canada wraps up the round robin with games against Germany on Sunday and Finland on Tuesday.

MacLeod is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and likes what she's seen from the group so far. The team
travelled to Europe on Boxing Day with an eye on peaking for the event.

“The group is awesome,” MacLeod said. “For a lot of these players, it's the first time on the
international stage. Kind of as a grizzled vet, if you were, it's kind of fun to relive it. I remember the
feeling.